Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 15:24:32 -1000
From: Mia H H Lam
Subject: Visiting Legislators (fwd)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 17 Jan 1999 01:02:37 -1000
From: Tom Ramsey
Reply-To: ramsey@math.hawaii.edu
Subject: Visiting Legislators
For the last two days, Tracey Bennett and I have been visiting some
legislators at the state capitol. From what we can tell, they are
seriously considering "fast tracking" an anti-same sex marriage bill.
This would be an instance of using their new powers which were granted
them by the passage of the constitutional amendment on Nov. 3, 1998.
"Fast tracking" might mean the following in, say, the Senate:
1. Assign the anti-marriage bill to the Judiciary Committee.
2. Immediately, or the next day, vote to pull it from the
Judiciary Committee to the Senate as a Committee of the whole. Hold
"hearings" as a committee of the whole.
3. Report the bill to the full Senate for immediate action. Go
through the required three votes on it. The total time might take about
one week (say, by January 28).
Tracey and I are getting mixed signals on domestic partnership bills. The
House seems open to passing something, and the Senate distinctly cool.
And both await some definite information from the governor about what he
has in mind. As one House supporter put it, "the Governor needs to be
talking to the Senate right now."
Both Tracey and I think that contacting your legislators at this time is
worth it. The Senate is running very scared, and it's possible that
contact from many of their constituents would reassure them that justice
has some public support after all. You can find phone numbers of
legislators on page 31 at the beginning of the white pages telephone
directory.
Enjoy MLK Day!
Tom Ramsey
P.S. I'm experimenting with a different mail utility to send this
message.
Please let me know if the message seems faulty in any way.